In such a place, such sum, or sums, as are
Express’d in the condition, let the forfeit
Be nominated for an equal pound
Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken
'In what part of your body pleaseth me.'
Anth. Content, in faith ; I'll seal to such a

bond, And

say,' there is much hindness in the Jew. Bass. You shall not seal to such a bond for

me ; l'll rather dwell in my necossity.' Anth. Why, fear not, man; I will not

forfeit it; Within these two months, that's a month before This bond expires, I do expect return Of thrice three times the value of the bond.

Shy. () father Abraham, what these Chris

tians are ;

Whose own hard dealing teaches them suspect?

The

୨

-body pleaseth me.] Folio-it pleaseth me.

MALONE, dwell in my necessity,] To dwell seems in this place to mean the same as to continue. To abide has both the senses of habitation and continuance.

JOHNSON. -teaches them suspect] The omission of the sign of the infinitive is not unusual in the ancient English poets; and, at this day, we are even inclined to ascribe to that mode of expression, a certain an-, tiquated elegance. For the sake of obviating a false

2

The thoughts of others ! Pray you, tell me

this;

If he should break his day, what should I gain
By the exaction of the forfeiture?
A pound of man's flesh, taken from a man,
Is not so estimable, profitable neither,
As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I say,
To buy his favour, I extend this friendship :
If he will take it, so; if not, adieu ;
And, for my love, I pray you, wrong me not.
Anth. Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this

bond.
Shy. Then meet me forthwith at the notary's;
Give him direction for this merry bond,
And I will go and purse the ducats strait ;
See to my house, left in the fearful guard3
Of an unthrifty knave; and presently
I will be with you.

Anth.

[Erit.

3

concord found in the older copies," dealings “ teaches,” the line is read in this manner, by sundry modern editorsWhose own hard dealings teach them to suspect.”

E. left in the fearful guard] Fearful guard, is a guard that is not to be trusted, but gives cause of fear. To fear was anciently to give, as well as feel terrors. JOHNSON. So, in our author's Tempest ;

“ He's gentle, and not fearful.” And in the first part of Henry iv. “ A mighty and a fearful head they are."

HEATн. .

2

Anth.

Hie thee, gentle Jew.This Hebrew will turn Christian ; he grows

kind. Bass. I like not fair terms,4 and a villain's

mind. Anth. Come on; in this there can be no

dismay ; My ships come home a month before the day.

[Exeunt.

4 I like not fair terms,] Kind words, good language. JOHNSON.

SCENE SCENE IV.*

Belmont. A Roon in Portia's House.

Flourish of cornets. Enter the Prince of Morocco, and his train ; Portia, Nerissa, and others of her attendants.

Mor. Mislike me not for my complexion, The shadow'd livery of the burnish'd sun, To whom I am a neighbour, and near bred. Bring me the fairest creature northward born, Where Phæbus' fire scarce thaws the icicles,

And

* SCENE IV. In the preceding editions, Scene 1, of Act II.—This I suppose to be the day succeeding that in which the foregoing scene was concluded. In the second of this Act, a servant informs the lady that a messenger brings word, “the prince his master will be here to night.” In that now before us, Portia, upon Morochius's expressing his earnestness to try his destiny, says,

-after dinner “ Your hazard shall be made.” It may, therefore, be presumed that she speaks not on the very same day on which he arrived : It is probable, however, from the impatience which he here discovers that he was not inclined to admit of any unnecessary delay. E.

I The old stage direction is, “ Enter Morochus a “ tawnie Moore, all in white, and three or foure “ followers accordingly, with Portia, Nerissa, and “ their traine," &c. STEEVENS.

And let us make incision for your love,
To prove whose blood is reddest, his, or mine.
I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine
Hath fear'd the valiant ;3 by my love, I swear,
The best-regarded virgins of our clime
Have lov'd it too: I would not change this hue,
Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle
queen.

Por.

2 To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine.] To understand how the tawney prince, whose savage dignity is very well supported, means to recommend himself by this challenge, it must be remembered that red blood is a traditionary sign of courage : thus Macbeth calls one of his frighted soldiers, a lily liver'd boy ; again, in this play, cowards are said to have livers as white as milk; and an effeminate and timorous man is termed a milksop. Johnson.

It is customary in the East for lovers to testify the violence of their passion by cutting themselves in the sight of their mistresses.

See Habits du Levant, pl. 43 ; and Picart's Religious Ceremonies, vol. vii. p. 111. Harris.

3 Hath feard the valiant ;] Fear'd for made afraid. So in The Taming the Shrew, Act i. Scene 6.

“ Tush, tush, fear boys with bugs. And in Antony and Cleopatra, Act ii. Scene 6. “ Thou canst not fear us Pompey with thy sails."

DR. GREY. To fear is often used by our old writers, in this sense. So, Ben Jonson, in Every man in his humour : “ Make him a warrant, (he shall not go ;) I but fear “ the knave.” So, in King Henry iv. Part 3 : “ For Warwick was a bug that feard us all.”

STEEVENS,